Eric Garner's widow holds out hope NYPD chokehold cop Daniel Pantaleo will see charges after new team of federal investigators takes over the case

Eric Garner’s widow was optimistic about a new team of investigators taking over the federal probe into her husband’s death.

Eric Garner's relatives expressed hope Tuesday after learning a new team of investigators has taken over the federal probe into his death.

"I'm very pleased about it," his widow Esaw Garner told the Daily News. "But I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch."

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The Justice Department investigation into the police chokehold death of Eric Garner, 43, has stretched on for more than two years amid in-fighting between investigators in New York and Washington.

Sources say the New York-based agents and prosecutors had recommended no charges be brought against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo.

Civil rights officials in Washington disagreed.

“I’m hoping they follow through with it and do what they need to do to put this officer away,” Esaw Garner said. (Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News)

In a highly unusual move, the feds have installed a team out of Washington to take over the case, sources said.

"I believe the Justice Department had been dragging its feet, but is now finally serious about pursuing justice and bringing charges" against Pantaleo and other officers, said Garner's daughter, Erica.

Eric Garner's death on a Staten Island sidewalk in July 2014 sparked days of nationwide protests against police brutality.

His final moments were caught on a cellphone video that captured him declaring "I can't breathe" 11 times as Pantaleo squeezed his neck.

The Medical Examiner's office ruled Eric Garner's death a homicide.

Pantaleo has been placed on modified duty.

The decision whether to seek a federal indictment will ultimately be made by the Justice Department's civil rights division and Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

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"We are cautiously optimistic because this could mean that a new team will go on and leave no stone unturned and protect the civil rights of Eric Garner," the Rev. Al Sharpton told The News.

Esaw Garner is seen on the front page of the Daily News after her husband’s death by police chokehold. (New York Daily News)

"Eric Garner had the civil right not to be choked to death against departmental guidelines."

Esaw Garner said she believes a federal indictment would have a far-reaching impact on the way officers police minority communities.

"They don't want to make these goddamn cops accountable," she added.

"If they would just put away one — not even all of them, just one — than the other ones would think about what they're doing before they do it."